Contrary to her misleading claim, her children are Nigerians because she is a Nigerian.
Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Femi Falana has faulted recent remarks by UK Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch on the transmission of Nigerian citizenship. Badenoch had claimed:
“It’s virtually impossible, for example, to get Nigerian citizenship. I had that citizenship by virtue of my parents. I can’t give it to my children because I’m a woman.”
Falana responded, saying Badenoch’s assertion is legally incorrect. He cited Section 25(b) and (c) of the Nigerian Constitution, which confers citizenship on children born abroad if either parent is Nigerian.
“Contrary to her misleading claim, her children are Nigerians because she is a Nigerian,” Falana declared, adding that Section 42(2) prohibits gender-based discrimination.
Falana also disputed Badenoch’s claim that Nigerian citizenship is almost unattainable, pointing to Sections 26 and 27 which allow for naturalisation and registration. However, he acknowledged a gender bias in spousal citizenship provisions that favour foreign women married to Nigerian men, calling for constitutional reform.